Combined telephone typewriter



May 1, 1928. 1,668,094

A. VERMES ET AL.

COMBINED TELEPHONE TYPEWRI 'IER Jailed March 6. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l Azm/vpm Ymms Ewuewtozs 951 Mei (Mime 13W May 1, 1928. I 1,668,094

A. VERMES ET AL COMBINED TELEPHONE TYPEWRITE R Filed March 6. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 1, 1928. 1,668,094

A. VERMES ET AL COMBINED TELEPHONE TYPEWRITER Filed March 6. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ami/Wm Vin/W5 m Maw! flaw/r avwewtoz S 315 k/lE/ flaw m W Patented May 1, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER VERMES AND MENDEL RUBIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

COMBINED TELEPHONE TYPEWRITER.

Application filed March 6, 1926. Serial No. 92975.

This invention relates to means to graphically transmit messages over the wires of the usual telephones, and has for its main object to provide a device of the mentioned character which could be set into operative position by extremely simple means in case a person desiring to transmit messages in the regular way orally to another person through the telephone finds that the receivers telephone does not answer in the usual way.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the mentioned character which can be attached to the existing telephone systems in asimple, quick and inexpensive manner, and which can use the existing telephone centrals in the transmission of graphic signs without any change in, or disturbance to the present construction and operation of such telephone instruments and telephone centrals.

Still another object. of our invention is to provide a device of the mentioned nature, which can record the transmitted messages in a permanent manner by ordinary every day types, and which can be operated in a manner similar to a typewriter.

For the accomplishment of these and such other-objects as will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, the invention consists of the following construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter specifically set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein is shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention, but it will be understood that such changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to as fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Inv the drawings forming a part of this application and in which like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views Fig. 1 is a diagram of the operating parts and connections of our invention combined with calling and called telephone stations, and a portion of the telephone central.

Fig. 2 is a detailed diagram showing the connection in parallelism of the several keys used in connection with our device to give impulses corresponding to different types.

Fig. 3 is a more detailed diagram of that portion of our device which is connected with the calling telephone station.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view of the typle disc used in connection .with our device, an

Fig. 5 is a detail diagram of the receiving ing or dimmer coils 12, and connected by the lines 13 and 14 to a telephone station 15, which is shown in this diagram as being the calling station, and with the lines 16 and 17 to a second telephone station 18, which is shown in the diagram as being the receiving or called station. Said telephone stations are of the usual make, and in their lines 13 and 14, and 16 and 17 double switches 19 and 20, respectively, are inserted, said switches being adapted to permit the use of the telephones in the usual manner, when in the positions indicated by the dotted lines, but which switches when turned into the position 19 and 20, indicated by the full lines, will cut off the respective telephone stations 15 and 18 from the central 10, and will instead connect our message transmitting and receiving devices with said central, and with one another through the same.

As will be seen by inspecting the diagram of Fig. 1, when the switches 19 and 20 are in the dotted position, the two telephone stations 15 and 18 are operating in the usual manner and may call each other and get-into communication through the usual operations.

For instance, if the calling station, indicated I 22 in the line of the station 15, and obtaining the desired information will insert further plugs 23 in the line of the station 18 so that the two stations are interconnected and ready for a conversation. Should it at present happen that no answer can be received from the called station 18, the connection will be cut ofi by the operator and the effort of the station to et into connection with the station 18 will e unsuccessful.

With our invention, however, means are at the disposal of the station 15 to graphically transmit the desired messa e to the station 18. With our devices ad ed to the telephone stations, the user of station 18, before leaving said station without service, will turn the switch 20 from its dotted position connecting its telephone instrument with the central, into the position 20,

- shown by full lines, thereby leaving its message receiving device, indicated in general by the numeral 24, connected with the cen- 'receiving device 24 of the other station w an outside source through the usual telephone wires and tele-' phone central. After this connection is established, the user of the calling station 15 will have to put a specifically constructed starting switch 26 into operative position, said switch being normally open. The starting switch 26 will close five lines of electrical conductors, as at 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31. The line of switch unit 27 serves to initially complete an alternating current between the calling and called stations, the switch units 28 and 29 complete a power circuit to operate the various elements of the starting station 25, to be described hereinafter, said circuit receivin its energy from and nally the "switch units 30 and 31 Will connect the transmitting device into the usual telephone lines il3-and 14. V v

The main element of the graphical mes-- sage transmitting instrument is a rotating disc 32, driven at a constant speed by a preferably alternating current motor 33, which receives its energy from an outside source,

as at 34, for instance from the usuallighting circuit in the building as-soon as the starter switch 26 is pushed into operative position and the switch units 28 and 29 are closed. By suitable driving connections the alternating current motora 33 .will not only rotate .the disc 32, but will also start and drive an alternating current generator 35. The current of said alternating generator, at

the moment of the starting of the operations, flows only one way to com lete its circuit, which is bylgoing in one irection through the conductor 36, switch unit 27 and to the ground, as at 37, while'in the other direction the current will flow from the generator 35 through the conductor 38, switch unit 31, into and along the regular telephone conductor 13, throu h the lower dimmer coils 12 of the telephone station, conductors 16 and 39 to and in the receiving devices of the called station 18, through the usual lighting circuit of the building,

and passing through the contact point 45, a small driving alternating current motor 48 and back to the outside source of power through the contact point 44. It is to be.

understood that both motors 33 and 47 are connected to the same power plant at 34 and 47, so that the cycle and haseof the current is the same for bot motors. Since said motors are both of the single base synchronous type, equally dimensione and having each the same number of poles, they -will rotate in perfect synchronism. The

motor 48, A being put into operation, will therefore drive a rotating disc 32 in the receiving station, strictly in synchronism with the disc 32 in the station'15. The disc 32 in' the calling station serves to 've signals in "the receiving station at desired moments,

and the disc 32 in the receiving station serves to write correspondin types at that moment, means being provi ed to stop for that moment the movement of both discs.

I To the alternatin current of the generator 35, a ,seoon route is also ven 'through a contact point 49, switch unit 30,

and the impulses permitted to pass throu h the contact point 49. Upon striking t e diflerent keys, cooperating means will cause the writing disc 32 to mark a co nding type on a' receiving ribbon 52 in t e writeration of said disc and permitting the clos= ing of contact 49, only at such moments; the writing magnet 50 w ll then attract an arm 54 in the writing instrument, strike a writing hammer 55 over the ribbon 52 while the writing disc or letter disc 32 presents the desired letter against the writing hammer 55, and means are also provided in connection with the arm 54 to stop the rotation of the writing disc 32* at that moment and as long as therotation ot' the synchronous disc 32 in the calling station is stopped. The ribbon 52 with the record of vthe message thereon may be wound on suitable rolls and the subscriber of the station 18 may unwind the same and read the message, upon returning. After finishing the transmission of the message to the station 18, the user of the station 15 may put its switch 19* back into the position 19, whereby his telephone is ready for the regular use. while. the station 18 will remain in a position in which the speaking instruments are cut ott and .its writing instruments are prepared and ready to receive further messages from any other station in the same telephone system.

One preferred embodiment of a calling or writing station 25 is shown more in detail in the Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The starting switch is indicated at 26 and its live contact units 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 are formed from appropriate elastic conductors with insulating members 61 between them. It will be obvious that upon pushing the slidable member 62 ot' the switch 26 in a downward direction, it will cause all the five contact members .to close at the same time, while when said sliding member 62 is pulled upwardly, as shown inFig. 3, the elastic conductors 60 are permitted -to snap back and break the contacts at the points 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31.

The double acting switch 19 is of the usual construction and connects the lines 13, and 14 either with the lines 63 leading to the telephone instrument 15, as has been,

described hereinbefore in connection with the diagram of Fig. 1,or said switch will connect, in its, position 19*, the outside tele phone lines with the line 38 leading to the alternating current generator 35 and with the line 51? leading to the type bars 64, contact 49. conductors 49 and to the generator 35.

Rotary disc 32 of the message transmit-ting instrument is driven from the motor 33 by the means indicated at 66 and it has on its face 67 suitably formed holes 68, preferably arranged staggered and on appropriate circles 69. When a type key 70 is struck it cannot move downwardly and complete the. electrical connection at 49 until a pin 71, set against the further end 72 of the type bar 64, pivoted at 73, is permitted to move in a left hand direction, said pin 71, however, cannot move in a left hand direction until the appropriate hole 68 will be turned registering withthe stem of the pin 71. Each key 70 represents a certain letter of the alphabet and other signs used in writing, and has a hole 68 corresponding to the same in the disc 32, and when such hole arrives in front of the pin 71, the electric connection at 49 can be closed through the pointed end 74 ot' the key bar contacting with a hollow electro-conductive member 75. To guide the pins 71 and steady them in-their motions, a rigid stationary member 76 may be placed in front of the-disc 32, the pins 71 playing in appropriate holes in said member 76 and being normally pressed in an outward or right .hand direction therefron'l through coiled springs 77, while the holes 68 in the disc 32 may be made tapering in one direction so as to permit an easier engagement with the respective pins 71, while being abruptly ended in the other direction to secure an exact and reliable contact between the pin and the wall of the hole as long the pin is pushed into the same.

lVhe-n a key 70 is struck and the appropriate hole 68 arrives in front of the respective pin 71, the electric circuit, through the point 49. will be completed, as described hereinbefore, and the respective signal sent to the writing magnet 50 in the receiving station, shown in Fig. 5. Said magnet will pull the writing arm 54 into the dotted position 54 and the writing hammer 53 will strike on the writing disc 32 as shown in the dotted position 53. The writing disc 32 has the desired types. figures, and signs, 77 on its periphery'and is set in such synchronous rotation with the transmitting discs 32, described hereinbefore. that when a certain writing keypin is permitted toenter into an opening in said writing disc 32. the type answering to the key struck will be turned on the disc 32 facing the hammer 55. An ink ribbon 78 )asses from a roll 79 over rolls 80, 81 an 82, on to a receiving roll 83, while the upper or recording ribbon 84 is unwound from its roll 85, passing over guiding rolls 86 and 87 on to a record receiving roll 88. The two ribbons are kept in motion while 'the record writing is being done by any suitable means, well known in the art, and the hammer will cause the respective type 77 to be recorded on. the ribbon 84. In order to stop the motion-of the disc 32 while a certain type of the same lflll is being copied on the ribbon 84, a stopthe. writing magnet 50 through the angle lever 90, pivoted at 91, and the bell crank 92, pivoted at 93, carrying the pin 89. It

is obvious that when the magnet 50 is energized,the angle lever 90 is moved in the direction of arrow 94 and pin 89 will move in the direction of arrow 95, engaging the hole 96 in the face 97 of the letter disc 32, stopping said disc in its position found at the moment when an electric impulse has been sent through the ma et 50. The lines ofthe angle lever 90 and bell crank 92 will take up about the positions indicated by the dotted lines 98,'the pivoted connections 99, between the two, being of such'a nature as to permit a relative movement between the end of the lever 90 and that of the bell crank 92. The recess 96 may be provided with flared or widened mouth 100, to guide the pin 89 andsecure its engagement with the right recess 96 in the disc 32, so as to insure a synchronous position between the discs 32 and 32.

One method of moving the record ribbon 81 and ink ribbon 7 8 at the right moments may consist in providing the angle lever 90 with an additional third arm 101, the end .102 of which is connected by a link 110 to an arm 104, loose on the shaft 105 of roll 88. A toothed wheel 106 is also arranged rotatablewith shaft 105 and roll 88, and a dog 107 is pivoted'on a pin 108 at the end of arm 104, yielding and rotatable pin the right hand direction, but preventing from moving in a left hand direction by the pin. 109. A spring 116 is normally pulling the angle'lever 90 into an. inoperative position, but when the writing magnet 50 is energized, said lever 90 will be drawn into its dotted position,'at the same moment moving the arms 101 and 104 into their respective dotted positions through the intermediary link 110, thereby causing the dog 107 to pass over a tooth of the wheel 106 in'a left handed direction without, however, causing any movement of said wheel or the roll 88. The record receiving ribbon 84 will therefore remain in a stationary position, while the writing ofthe respective type is being done thereon, and to further insure an immobility of the ribbon 84 and the roll 88, a second dog 111 may be provided pivoted in a stationary portion of the mechanism, as at 112, and preventing the movement of the wheel 106 in a left hand direction by being fixed through the stationary pin. 113. After the writing is finished and the electrical impulse stops, the lever 90 will snap back into its position shown by the full lines, under the influence of spring 116, and its extension arm 101 will pull the loose arm 1.04 forward or in a right hand direction to its position shown by the full lines, thereby causin the roll 88 to be rotated in a right hand ireca worm, or by any other suitable means.

In Fig. 2, we show in a diagrammatic manner, a method of electricall connecting the various keys 70, whereby al the pivots ;an extended shaft adapted to drive a worm gear on the shaft of oneof said rolls through 73 of the keys are electrically connected through a shaft 73*faind all the cup shaped receiving members 75 of the contacts 49 are placed in electro-conductive bars 75", said )ars being connected between themselves in parallelism, so that the striking of any key 70 will close the writing circuit of the generator 35 as has been described hereinbefore. 4

We may also employ a specific control device 19" in connection with our double respective motors and sources of power, so

that the writing instrument should not by mistake he left in operative position while it is desired to use the telephone station 15 in the ordinary manner. When the switch 19 is plamd in its dotted position, its left hand bar 19 will strike the end 19 of the bell crank 19", pivoted at 19, and presses it from its position showniby the dotted lines into its full lineposition, in which case the switch 26 will be lifted upwardly, by the intermediacy of a disc 62" on its sliding stem 62.

We also want to show a slightmodification in the connections of the writing circuit to the alternating current generator 35, which is indicated by the dot and dash line 19 in Fig. 1, starting from one connection of said generator and terminating at the contact point 49, to replace the former connection 49 of similar role. Using the connection 49", the circuit of the writing impulses will also close through the ground.

It'is obvious that each telephone station desiring vto use our invention must be equipped with both transmitting and receiving instruments which, however, ma

all be conveniently set in one unit and al that will be needed to install our combined writing and receiving instrument in connection with any existing telephone, will be in. simply connecting the same with two wires to the telephone station and with two additional wires to any outside source of,

electric energy, like the usual lighting circuit- Discs 32 and 32 may also be combined in one unit in the instrument, or separate discs may be provided for the pur pose of giving and receiving and recording signals.

What we claim as new, is:

1. An apparatus of the class described including a printing mechanism and an actuat-ing mechanism therefor, said actuating mechanism including a rotatable member, key means corresponding to different signals to be transmitted and printed and co operating directly with said rotatable member to temporarily lock said member against rotations when the member has reached a point in its rotational position corresponding to the particular key operated. a circuit interconnecting the actuating mechanism and the printing mechanism, means for sending a current over said Circuit, the printing mechanism including an electromagnet that canbe energized by said current, a switch in said circuit, means operative by said electromagnet to operate said switch, a second electromagnet, said key being operative when cooperating with the rotatable member as aforesaid to shut a part of said current through said switch to energize the second electromagnet, a hammer operative by the second electromagnet, a type member rotating in synchronism with the rotating member aforesaid, and printing means cooperating with said type mem- -ber and said hammer to form a record of the signal transmitted corresponding to the particular key actuated. as aforesaid, the key being thereupon released, breaking the circuit through the second electromagnet and causing the printing mechanism to return to normal position.

2. Apparatus of the class described in claim 1, wherein means is provided cooperating with said type member to temporarily lock the same against rotation while the first mentioned rotating member is similarly locked.

3. An apparatus of the class described including a printing mechanism and an actuating mechanism therefor, said actuating mechanism including a rotatable member, key means corresponding to different signals to be transmitted and printed, said key means cooperating individually with said rotatable member according to the rotational position of said member, the printing mech-' anism including an electromagnet, a switch to operate said electromagnet, a. second switch operative by said electromagnet, a

second electromagnet operative by the second switch, said key serving when cooperating as aforesaid to close a circuit through thesecond switch to energize the second electromagn'et, a type member rotating in synchronism with the rotating member aforesaid, and means operative by the second electromagnet and cooperating with said type member to record a signal transmitted by the key as aforesaid, a release of said key serving to break the circuit through the second electromagnet to deenergize the same.

4. An apparatus of the class described including a recording mechanism, and an actuating mechanism therefor, said actuatingmechanism including a rotatable member, key members corresponding to the different signals to be transmitted and printed, the key members cooperating individually with said rotating member according to the corresponding rotational position thereof, the printing mechanism including a type member rotating in synchronism with said rotatable member, recording means cooperating with said type member, electrical actuatlng means to cause the recording of a signal corresponding to the key that is actuated as aforesaid, said electrical means being operated by a circuit controlled by said key.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4:, wherein locking means is provided to temporarily lock the rotating members against rotation while the key is being operated and a signal recorded.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4:, wherein a second switch is provided in said circuit, and an electromagnet to operate the second switch in multiple with said electrical means, said electroinagnet being nor-,

mally open, whereby the closing of the circut through the electrical means aforesaid by said key serves to shunt the current deenergizing said electromagnet, causing the sec- 0nd switch to open thus breaking instantly the circuit through said electrical means to return the recording means to normal position and in readiness to record another signal.

7. An apparatus of the class described including a sending mechanism having a. motor, a rotatable member rotated by said motor, an alternating current generator operated by said motor, a line circuit, a switch for connecting one'terminal of said generator to ground, and the other terminal thereof to said line circuit, said rotatable member being arranged to correspond to different signals according to the rotational position thereof, key members cooperating selectively with said rotating member according to the signal desired to be transmitted and to temporarily lock said rotating member from movement when so cooperating therewith,

and to connect the ground terminal of the generator to the line circuit; and a remote recording mechanism including an'electromagnet grounded in the line circuit so as to be energized by the current from said generator, a second electromagnet in the line circuit, a switch operated by the first elec-,

record the signal corresponding to the key; operated, the rotating members moving synchronism with one another.

8. Apparatus of the class dwcribed including electrically cooperating sending" means and recording means each of which is readily connectlble as a self-contained unit to a line circuitithe sending means including a generator to send a current over the line circuit, the recordin means including an electromagnet, operative by the current of the generator, a switch in the recordmg means arranged to closed by said electromagnet, the sending means includin movable means operative to transmit a p urality of signals over the line circuit, the recording means including means connectedin circuit with said line circuit when said switch is closed to be operative by a signal to record said signal, said apparatus including means to operate said movable means and the recording means in synchronism whereby a signal can be recorded with a maximum simphcity of ap aratus.

Si ed at ew York, in the county of New ork, and State of New York, this 10th day of February, 1926.

ALEXANDER VERMES. MENDEL RUBIN. 

